TRENTON – Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced that a former civilian aide for the Irvington Police Department has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $31,000 in coins from municipal parking meters.
According to Director Gramiccioni, Rodney Dennis, 52, of Irvington, pleaded guilty yesterday to second-degree official misconduct before Superior Court Judge Michael A. Petrolle in Essex County. The charge was contained in a June 18, 2008 state grand jury indictment.
Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Dennis be sentenced to three to five years in state prison. In addition, Dennis will be required to pay full restitution to the City of Irvington of $31,885. Judge Petrolle scheduled his sentencing for Feb. 25.
Dennis was a civilian employee of the Irvington Police Department whose duties included removing the coins from street parking meters, bagging the coins, and depositing them into a police department bank account. In pleading guilty, Dennis admitted that between Jan. 21 and Dec. 9, 2006, he took $31,885 in coins from Irvington parking meters and deposited them in his personal bank account for his personal use. Dennis was fired from his municipal job in February 2008, after the thefts came to light. An investigator at the bank where Dennis had the account alerted the Irvington Police Department about the suspicious coin deposits. The police department referred the matter to the Division of Criminal Justice.
The case was investigated by Detective Harry Maronpot of the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau. Deputy Attorney General Michael A. Monahan presented the case to the state grand jury and took yesterday’s guilty plea.
The Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free Corruption Tipline for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities: 1-866-TIPS-4CJ. Additionally, the public can log on to the Division Web site at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing. All information received through the Tipline or Web page will remain confidential.
